North Wales could see a surge in the number of venomous snake bites because of the current warm weather spell.
North Wales Wildlife Trust is warning that people need to take care when walking through long grass or other “high risk areas” such as sand dunes, as the heat makes them more likely to emerge.
Yesterday the Daily Post reported that a 13-year-old boy in Gwynedd had ended up on a heart monitor after being bitten by an adder , and it has now emerged that a 3-year-old boy has also been attacked.
Mason Jenkins was rushed to hospital after being bitten by an adder while walking his dogs with his father, Mefyn, in a field behind his grandmother’s house near Rhosneigr , Anglesey.
Merfyn said his son ran ahead of him, but returned shortly after pointing at a scratch on his foot and saying he’d seen a snake.
Within minutes the little boy began crying and said he felt sick and that his stomach was hurting.
Mefyn, 39, carried his son down the road back to his house when Mason’s lips turned pale and he began vomiting.
The poultry farm foreman said: “My partner Tamsey was holding Mason and he was going floppy in her arms like he wanted to go to sleep.
“We called 999 and when the paramedic arrived Mason’s tongue was swollen and his heart was racing, so he called for a back up ambulance and rushed him to Ysbyty Gwynedd .
“He was put on a drip and on a heart monitor.
“I never saw the snake but I know they’re there, I’ve come across them regularly, my next door neighbour’s Jack Russel was killed by one a few years back.”
Thirteen year old Macey Roberts was also rushed to hospital on Monday after being bitten on the ankle by an adder whilst playing near the beach in Pwllheli.
Both Mason and Macey were left with a swollen foot and leg after being bitten, and Macey also came away with a piece of the snakes fang still stuck in his foot.
Mason was in Ysbyty Gwynedd for five days after the attack and had to have two doses of anti-venom.
Merfyn added: “It was a very frightening experience.
“Seeing him on the drip and monitor was heartbreaking as he is so young but he was a very brave little boy, his mum stayed by his side the whole time.”
It has also emerged that Ysbyty Gwynedd have already dealt with more snake attack victims over the last few weeks than they did throughout last year.
Linda Dykes from Ysbyty Gwynedd’s Emergency Department said: “It’s usually the case that kids accidentally stand on them or people try to pick them up.
“Adders will never attack, but they will defend themselves.
“They’re very quick, I don’t think people realise how fast they are, and their bites can be very unpleasant and dangerous.
“My advice would be to keep out of sand dunes, stay away from high-risk areas and don’t touch them.”
see-http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/north-wales-poison-adder-bite-11419922
No comments:
Post a Comment